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DALE EARNHARDT JR. NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD/AMP ENERGY CHEVROLET POST-RACE RECAP/DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY DATE: Sept. 27, 2009 RACE: AAA 400 START: 24th FINISH: 20th POINTS POSITION: 22nd RECAPPING THE RACE: An untimely caution flag trapped Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 National Guard/ AMP Energy Chevrolet, and a handful of other strong competitors a lap down from the leaders at Dover International Speedway on Sunday. The team spent the second half of the 400-lap NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event battling for position and eventually crossed the finish line 20th. Earnhardt lined up 24th for Sunday's 400-mile event and maintained his starting position for the opening laps. On Lap 18 he notified interim crew chief Lance McGrew that the blue-and-white Chevy needed to turn better from the center of the turn through the exit. A predetermined competition caution flag waved on Lap 25, and McGrew used the opportunity to make adjustments to the No. 88 Chevy. He called for four fresh tires with an air pressure adjustment and fuel. The field went back to green-flag racing on Lap 31, and the red flag waved the following lap for a dramatic six-car incident that sent the No. 20 car rolling down in Turn 3. The action was halted for more than 20 minutes as the safety crews tended to the drivers and cleaned up the track. When green-flag racing resumed, Earnhardt raced as high at 17th during the run but noted he still wanted his Chevy to turn better. Green-flag pit stops started on Lap 154, and Earnhardt headed down pit road on Lap 159. The No. 88 team quickly bolted on four fresh Goodyear tires, gave the Chevy fuel and made an air pressure and chassis adjustment. Unfortunately, the leaders had yet to make their way down pit road when the caution flag waved, trapping Earnhardt and several other competitors a lap down. Throughout the remainder of the race, Earnhardt was running as the potential “Lucky Dog” free pass recipient. By NASCAR rule, the first eligible car, not on the lead lap when the caution flag waves, is given one lap back as long as more than 10 laps remain in the race. With long green-flag runs in the second half of the race, Earnhardt never was able to capitalize on this rule and get back on the lead lap. Earnhardt crossed the finish line 20th, first car one lap down, behind his Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon, who finished first, second and sixth, respectively.   ***** Courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports. Media Relations | No. 88 AMP Energy / National Guard Racing ***** Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Official Site - www.dalejr.com |
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